REVELATION 14:1
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)
As everyone knows, the book of Revelation can be confusing. But there are some snippets that are very clear. The book deals with the end times. Everyone is curious about those days, but it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what God was actually showing John, the author of Revelation. He was seeing things in a vision. And visions are symbolic. Some of Revelation is very symbolic and some is not. Some of Revelation are things that have happened and some that are to come. Some of Revelation are scenes in heaven during this time and some are scenes of things happening on earth. It switches back and forth between those perimeters; symbolic and not, past, present, future and heaven and earth. So, it can be confusing.
This Scripture, Revelation 14:1 is not symbolic. It is something that will happen on earth. The Lamb is Jesus. John saw a Lamb. Notice that it is capitalized. It is the Lord. It is prophesied that He will come in the last days and put His feet on mount Sion. And when He does, the mountain is going to split in half. That’s the power of our Lord and God. He will come in victory. He will come as warrior and make all His enemies bow down before Him. All will see Him as He is, a mighty God.
Who are His enemies? The answer may surprise you. James wrote the following: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) James is not addressing actual adulterers and adulteresses. Idolatry or worshipping anything or anyone other that God is spiritual adultery. When we give anything in this temporal natural world priority over God, it is spiritual adultery.
Paul had this to say about being enemies of God: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10) This implies that if we’re not reconciled to God through Jesus, we are God’s enemy. But even so, God is merciful and gives the unbeliever opportunities to recognize His position as their God and Jesus as Lord. The word Lord is defined in the dictionary as follows: “someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.” When we recognize Jesus is Lord, we obey because we love Him. We love Him because He is our Savior and Deliverer from the grasp of satan. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
This verse in Revelation mentions the 144,000. This is where the Jehovah Witnesses erroneously say that only 144,000 will be saved, which doesn’t say much for the rest of us. But these 144,000 are actually Jewish virgin prophets who will witness or testify on the earth in the last days during the Tribulation. There are 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. They have their father’s name written on their foreheads. “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.” (Revelation 7:4-8) At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will touch mount Sion and the 144,000 will be with Him.
It is going to be a magnificent show of God’s power. The end times are dramatic and chaotic. So much is happening. We don’t know when this will happen. All the Biblical signs says it’s beginning. God only knows. We can only be wise and acknowledge God now, before those times, because it will be a very hard time for everyone. It will be catastrophic for everyone. The unbeliever will suffer greatly. And even those believers on earth at the time will face great persecution. So, it’s not a good time anyway you look at it.
Our hope is based on the Word of God, Who does not lie and has promised us life everlasting with Him. This world is full of trouble. But in those days it will be worse.
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